In 1971, I took a year off from college and spent 6 months with the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to become a meditation teacher. That experience gave me endurance to continue my studies and become an MD. I completed residency training in both Pediatrics (Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC) and Ophthalmology (Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA) with board certification in both fields, followed by a corneal transplant fellowship. I practiced Ophthalmology for 17 years and developed painful arthritis along the way. After experiencing permanent vision loss in one eye, I was forced to stop practicing medicine in 2003. When one door closes, another opens .... but you can wind up in the hallway between doors for a long time. I spent a year in bed until a 2nd injectable arthritis medicine helped me walk and drive more comfortably. I then went to the Chopra Center to study meditation and Ayurveda with Deepak and David. My recovery has been wonderful - I'm excited about being alive again. I now have a more comprehensive understanding about how meditation and Ayurveda help one heal and transform. I try to share that understanding with new meditators.